Samsung Galaxy S5 vs LG G2 quick look

When it comes to design, the Samsung Galaxy S5 does introduce a very welcome change away from the glossy plastic, and brings in a textured soft touch finish on the back, although overall, the design aesthetic is very similar to the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 before it. You have to same button layout all around, but the capacitive menu button has been done away with, in favor of a recent apps button.

Speaking of button layouts, LG attempted something very different with the G2. While it is made up of a glossy, slippery plastic that is very fingerprint prone, what is really unique about this device is the button layout that is now on the back of the device, and is supposed to be used with your index finger. Convenient or not, this positioning allows for a very clean look to the front of the device. Helped along with the ultra-thin bezels that really make the display shine through, we have absolutely no distracting elements on the front.

Overall its a battle of the soft touch plastic of the Galaxy S5, which may or may not look good according to your standard, and the curved back, with the button layout at the rear, of the G2. In either case, you have a device that is a pleasure to hold.

You get a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with G2, compared to the 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen of the Galaxy S5, both with a 1080p resolution. There isn’t much a difference in the size, but the small bezels of the LG G2 make it very attractive. Either way though, the colors are quite vivid, and viewing angles and brightness are not issues with either of these smartphones.

Both of these smartphones have similar processors, with the Galaxy S5 featuring an updated Snapdragon 801 clocked at 2.5 GHz, compared to the 2.26 GHz Snapdragon 800 of the LG G2. 2 GB of RAM and Adreno 330 graphics offer best-in-class processing packages, with the S5 getting the slight nudge of being faster.

MicroSD expansion is missing from the G2, which is always one of the advantages of Samsung devices. Built-in storage for both is available at the standard 16 GB or 32 GB.

While the LG G2 boasts a slightly bigger 3,000 mAh battery, which accounts for its extra thickness, compared to the 2,800 mAh unit of the Galaxy S5. However, the Galaxy S5, much like many other Samsung smartphones, comes with a removable battery, so you can always carry spares around in case you’re worried about running out of power.

One aspect of hardware we’re very excited to put through its paces in a more detailed comparison is a camera fight, because both of these devices offer really good optics. While the 13 MP rear shooter of the LG  G2 comes with Optical Image Stabilization, which is a big deal, Samsung has definitely upped its ante with the 16 MP ISOCELL camera,

When you look at the software over the last year or two, you might find that if these two companies weren’t rivals when it comes to their software offerings, they’d be more like brothers. After all, both user interfaces are bright and colorful, and very similar in their appearances, and are packed with a long list of features that you may or may not use.

Useful LG G2 features include Knock On, which will be updated to the Knock Code, and while the Galaxy S5 does come with some software enhancements like the Magazine UX and Kids Mode, you do also have some hardware additions like the fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor, with its the associated applications.

With both these smartphones, it’s obvious that the companies are trying to offer a lot for the user experience. You just have to take a look at the Settings toggles in the notifications drop down to see just how much they offer, and how similar they are.

Not a lot is different when it comes to the camera software either, with both offering numerous modes, filters, settings, and more, and it’s only a question of which device offers more, that you would want.

Both smartphones do offer very full featured offerings, however, the LG G2 does change things up a little with its unique button layout at the back, while the Galaxy S5 pretty much continues the formula that Samsung has been using, while adding a lot more on top of it. Whichever one is better for you depends on what you need to get the best experience for you.

What do you think? Do the unique aspects of the LG G2 make it a winner over the Galaxy S5, or is tried and tested the best way to go? Let us know in the comments section below.

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